Lamp lock



F. J. GEORGE LAMP LOCK May 27 1924. 3%95586 Filed June 14. 1920.

Patented May 27, 1924.

E3 i "i T S it E iii. i

LAMP oan.

Application filed June 14, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED J. GEORGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp Locks, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to a device intended to lock an electric light bulb in place within a socket intended for its reception. The various features of novelty which are characteristic of this invention, as well as the objects and purposes served thereby, will appear hereinafter from the specification and claims, and from the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention in the manner following:

Figure 1 is a viewin elevation, with parts thereof exhibited in section, of an ordinary socket with electric light bulb secured therein, the lock which is the subject of this invention being shown in operative relation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lock detached from the socket;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the insulating ring employed in the lock; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of, a slightly modified insulating ring shown detached from the collar.

The present device denoted as A may be used with a socket B adapted to receive a lamp C, both of conventional construction. As is usual with such parts, the socket includes an outer shell 6 having thereon a projection 7, usually in the form of an annular bead or spiral thread, and interiorly the socket is formed to receive the neck of the lamp bulb, designated as 8, and which in the construction shown is formed with threads for connection with the socket. Additionally it is provided with the usual projecting solder drop 9 which establishes an electrical circuit between the neck and one of the terminals interiorly of the lamp.

According to this invention means are provided for securing the lamp in place within its socket so that it may not be removed therefrom except by the use of a proper kev. As illustrated in the drawing, the device A used for this purpose is in the form of a split collar 10 having adjacent eel-m1 No. 388,741.

its ends a pair of lugs 11 with registering holes one of which is bv preference enlarged as at 12 to receive the head 13 of a locking screw 14 which extends its shank into the hole ofthe other lug, as shown in Fig. 5. The screw head, if desired, may be triangular incross section so as to be operable only by the aid of a proper key (not shown). By means of the locking screw, the split ends of the collar may be drawn together with a desired degree of pressure, so as to clamp the device upon the shell of the socket B and also upon the neck of the lamp 0 in the manner that will presently be eX- plain'ed.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the collar is formed with an inturned flange 16'adjacent one of its ends which, for purposes of convenience, will be termed the upper end, inasmuch as it occupies that relation in the drawing. This flange is adapted to rest against the socket shell above the projection 7 so as to prevent'removal of the collar from the socket when the collar ends are drawn together. Additionally the collar is provided at its lower end with an inturned flange 17 which is adapted to lie within an annular groove 18 formed exteriorly of an insulating ring 19, best shown in Fig. 1. This ring may be formed of fibre, or of any other appropriate insulating material, and may also, if desired, possess spring qualities such that it will normally remain in place when applied in position upon the flange 17. By preference, however, this ring is cemented or adhered fixedly in place so as not to be slidable or. removable from the collar. It will be noted that this insulating ring is split, so that it may present its ends substantially adjacent to the ends of the flange 17 which also terminate adjacent the collar lugs. At the side of each flange 16 and 17 which is remote from its ends a portion of the metal is cut out as at 20, so that the collar ends may be spread apart more easily when the device is being applied to the socket. By referencev to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the inner periphery of the insulating ring lies inwardly of the upper flange 16 a distance substantially equal to the difference between the diameters of the socket shell and lamp neck, the result being that the device, when applied in place, will engage the socket through its upper flange while at the same time engaging the lamp neck with the insulating ring.

In Fig. 6 I have suggested a slight modification in the construction of the insulating ring, in that it is provided upon its outer periphery at one of its ends with a tongue 23 which extends across to the other end, and is adapted to lie in overlapping relation thereto, a recess or seat 24 being pro. vided for the accommodation of the tongue extremity. According to this construction, the ring presents a complete enclosure of insulating material within which the solder drop may lie only in the space between its ends and inwardly of the tongue.

By preference the lower end of the collar is provided with threads 21 or other form of projection arranged exteriorly thereof, upon which may be secured the ring 22, threaded or otherwise formed, of a shade holder D which may be of any conventional design. When the holder is applied in place upon the collar, it will occupy a final position which is adjacent the lugs 11, as shown in the drawing.

In Fig. 1, the collar is shown as it appears during the operation of being applied to the socket. Initially the collar ends are spread apart sufficiently to permit its upper flange to pass over the projection upon the socket shell, after which the lamp may be introduced into the socket. Prior to complete insertion, the lamp will be related to the other parts somewhat as Fig. 1 shows. The collar is free to slide upwardly as the lamp neck advances into the socket during which operation the solder drop may lodge between the ends of the insulating ring .(see Fig. 5), thus forming in effect a stop member which engages one or both of the ends of the insulating ring and causes the ring to rotate in unison with the lamp neck. If the ring be tightly secured in place, the collar may be caused to revolve as the lamp is turned to screw its neck further into the socket; otherwise the ring alone may slide around with the lamp.

In final posit-ion the collar will probably be raised sufficiently to present its upper flange an appreciable distance above the socket projection, but the locking action of the device will in nowise be impaired on this account since the purpose of the flange is served in part during the preliminary operations by holding the collar loosely in place. When the parts are in final position, the key is used to turn the locking screw and thereby tighten the device both upon the socket and upon the lamp neck. It is to be noted that when so clamped upon these two parts, the insulating ring maintains a complete separation between them such as to obviate any possibility of a short, this separation being variable according to the thickness of the insulating ring.

The engagement of the insulating ring with the solder drop also affords an effective interlock, since the downward travel of the ring will be limited by the engagement of the collar with the socket head 7, after which further retractive rotation of the lamp will be prevented.

I claim:

1. In combination with a lamp socket adapted to receive the neck of a lamp and provided with an outwardly protruding portion adapted to furnish a stop member, a split collar slidably mounted on the socket and provided at its upper end with an inturned member adapted to engage the stop member on the socket to prevent complete removal of the collar when locked, means for locking the collar, a split insulating ring engaged by the lower end of the split collar and longitudinally movable therewith, and a lamp provided with a threaded neck having thereon a solder drop interposed between the ends of the split insulating ring, the parts being so relationed that the conjoint engagement of the solder drop with the insulating ring and the engagement of the split collar with the socket stop memher will prevent complete removal of the lamp, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a socket adapted to receive the neck of a lamp and provided with an outwardly protruding bead furnishing a stop member, a lock therefor comprising a split collar provided at its upper end With an inturned flange adapted to engage said bead when the collar is locked, means for locking the collar upon the socket, an inturned flange at the outer end of the split collar, a split insulating ring engaged by said inturned flange, a lamp provided with a threaded neck adapted to enter the socket and having thereon a solder drop adapted to be engaged within the space between the separated ends of the split insulating ring, the relation of the parts being such that the conjoint engagement of the solder drop with the insulating ring and the engagement of the upper flange on the collar with the bead on the socket will prevent further rotation and removal of the lamp when locked, substantially as described.

FRED J. GEORGE. Witness:

EPHRAIM BANNING. 

